Coltonite Trinidad Calderilla Honored with Military Banner

Local veteran and Coltonite Trinidad Calderilla was honored with a military banner installation ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Calderilla was born and raised in Colton. After graduating from Colton High School, he went straight to the Army. Calderilla served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 and is now 89 years old. He was a PSD (Private Sector Development) Private First Class. “He was a foot soldier and his faith in God was and still is very strong,” Calderilla’s daughter Sylvia shared. Calderilla explained his experience as a foot soldier. “It was scary at first… but my faith in God really helped me,” he said. His mother gave him a prayer book before he left and told him that it would take care of him. When I had a chance, I would read through it… it really helped.” Calderilla worked as a scout in the Army; he and another foot soldier would scout territory to make sure it was safe. One evening while Calderilla was reading the prayer book, his fellow scout asked him why he was reading it. Calderilla responded, “I think it’ll help us… but he didn’t say anything and just walked off.” Then, the next day when the two men were out on patrol, scouting the territory, suddenly they heard a gunshot that were not too far from where they were walking. Neither of them was injured and came out of the situation perfectly fine. However, the same night when Calderilla was reading his prayer book, the scout patrolling with him that day asked if he could simply touch the prayer book. “I believe because of that experience, it really helped him… I knew how he was feeling,” Calderilla said. About 40 of his family and friends were able to attend the installation ceremony. Calderilla has five children: two daughters and three sons, not including his 19 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Fortunately, most of his family was able to attend the ceremony to honor him for his time served. “He’s devoted to his family… he supports them in their sports and is always there for them in anything,” Sylvia shared. “It’s been so long since I’ve served in the military so for something like this to happen... it was just so great,” Calderilla shared. “I’m so glad the City of Colton did this for me. They did a great job, too.” Calderilla’s military banner is actually very close to where he lives now; you can find his banner on the southeast corner of 3rd Street and Valley Boulevard.